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First Capital City Festival of Lights Kicks Off

Homemaker Health

Jefferson City is lighting up for the first time this holiday season with its inaugural Capital City Festival of Lights.

The drive-through festival is completely run by volunteers who have set up 15 displays at Binder Park, including LED sets with Santa, elves and reindeer. Some of the displays even sync to car radios to give a completely immersive experience.

“Our plan is to really build up a park that people want to come from all over to see,” Jeff Buker, a volunteer with Homemaker Health, said. “Our goal is to build this into a destination that some of the tour buses and things like that will want to stop by.”

Buker said he and others who started the festival wanted a large event for Jefferson City. That’s when Buker had the idea for the interactive light display, which was a way to get the community involved.

“They’re just a great event for an area to be able to be able to have something like this and enjoy the holidays,” he said. “You can load up your car with as many people as you can get in there, and bring out the family and friends and enjoy the park and enjoy the lights.”

The lights festival is $20 per vehicle and will run every day in the month of December, except for Mondays.

The proceeds of the festival go toward local charities Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City, Homemaker Health and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Volunteer Paul Buckley said it’s something Homemaker Health hopes to keep up in the years to come.

“It’s an opportunity for people in Jefferson City to participate in adding something nice that can become an annual tradition,” Buckley said. “That will attract visitors and will really grow over time.”